Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition leaked by Google

Images of what appear to be the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition have been leaked onto the internet, and Google itself is to blame.

Many expected the recent Google I/O show to see the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition, just as last year’s event saw the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition. However, there was no sign of the smartphone collaboration as Google focused on wearables.

That no-show doesn’t appear to have signified anything, however, as pictures of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition have emerged.

Over on the official Android website, a little way down the home page, there’s an image of a number of Android smartphones. Among the various Nexus and HTC devices there’s a Samsung Galaxy S5, and that sure as heck isn’t TouchWiz it’s running.

The Google Experience initiative sees popular high-end smartphones from top manufacturers like HTC, LG, Sony, and Samsung stripped of their individual software customisations, installed with the latest stock Android OS, and sold on the Google Play Store alongside its Nexus range.

As if that weren’t sufficient confirmation that the Samsung Galaxy S5 Google Play Edition is in the works, the ever-reliable @evleaks has tweeted a picture of the device alongside the words “Let’s try this again: Samsung Galaxy S5, Google Play Edition, 2014.”